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Alansprangupwithanexclamation；inhisnew-foundjoyhehadforgottenallabouttheAsiki。
“Keephairon，Major，“saidJeekiecheerfully；“don’tthinktheyattackyet，plentyoftimeforbreakfastfirst。Whentheycomewemakeitveryhotforthem，lotsofrifleandcartridgenow。“
“Can’twerunaway？“askedBarbara。
“No，Missy，can’trun；muststophereanddobest。Campwellbuilt，openallround，don’tthinktheytakeit。YouleaveeverythingtoJeekie，heseeyouthrough，butp’rapsyoulikecomebreakfastoutside，whereyouknowallthatgoon。“
Barbaradidlike，butasithappenedtheywereallowedtoconsumetheirmealinpeace，sincenoAsikiappeared。Assoonasitwasswallowedshereturnedtohertent，whileAlanandJeekiesettoworktostrengthenthedefencesofthelittlecampaswellastheywereable，andtomakereadyandserveoutthearmsandammunition。
Aboutmiddayamanwhomtheyhadpostedinatreethatgrewinsidethecampannouncedthathesawtheenemy，andnextmomentacompanyofthemrushedtowardsthemacrosstheopenandweregreetedbyavolleywhichkilledandwoundedseveralmen。Atthisexhibitionofmiraculouspower，fornoneofthesesoldiershadeverheardthereportoffirearmsorseentheireffect，theyretreatedrapidly，utteringshoutsofdismayandcarryingtheirdeadandwoundedwiththem。
“Doyousupposetheyhavegone，Jeekie？“askedAlananxiously。
Heshookhishead。
“Thinknot，Major，thinktheyfrightened，bybigbulletmagic，andgoconsultpriest。Alsoonlyafewofthemhere，restofarmycomelaterandtryrushusto-morrowmorningbeforedawn。ThatAsikicustom。“
“Thenwhatshallwedo，Jeekie？Runforitorstophere？“
“Thinkmuststophere，Major。Ifwebolt，carryingMissBarbara，whocan’twalkmuch，theyfollowonspoorandcatchus。Beststickinsidethisfenceandseewhathappen。Alsoonceoutsidep’rapsportersdesertandleaveus。“
Soastherewasnothingelsetodotheystayed，labouringalldayatthestrengtheningoftheirfortificationstillatlengththebomaorfenceofboughs，supportedbyearth，wassohighandthickthatwhileanywerelefttofirethroughtheloopholes，itwouldbeverydifficulttostormbymenarmedwithspears。
ItwasadreadfulandarduousdayforAlan，whonowhadBarbara’ssafetytothinkof，Barbarawithwhomasyethehadscarcelyfoundtimetoexchangeaword。Bysunsetindeedhewassowornoutwithtoilandanxietythathecouldscarcelystanduponhisfeet。Jeekie，whoallthatafternoonhadbeenstrangelyquietandreflective，surveyedhimcritically，thensaid:
“Youhavegooddrinkandgosleepabit，Major。VerygoodlittlesheltertherebyMissBarbara’stent，andyouholdherhandifyoulikeunderneaththecanvas，whichcomfortingandallcorrect。Jeekienevergettired，hekeepgoodlookoutandletyouknowifanythinghappen，andthenyoujumpupquitefreshandfightliketom-catincorner。“
AtfirstAlanrefusedtolisten，butwhenBarbaraaddedherentreatiestothoseofJeekiehegaveway，andtenminuteslaterwasassoundlyasleepasheha
